How to apply for National Fire Academy courses

Thank you for your interest in training with us! We look forward to receiving your application and assisting you through the process. For help completing your application, contact our Admissions Office, Monday – Friday between 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. ET, at 800-238-3358, ext. 1035 or by email at netcadmissions@fema.dhs.gov.

Ready to enroll in a free National Fire Academy (NFA) course? Follow these steps to apply for admission:

Understand course requirements. Many courses have specific selection criteria or prerequisites; be sure to review the Course Description page for detailed instructions. Search for courses.

Application basics

If your application is not accepted for the first semester you must reapply for second semester courses. Applications are not carried over.

You may apply for more than one course per semester, but you must submit a separate application for each course.

Application notifications

Our Admissions Office will notify you about the status of your application via email no later than 60 days after the close of the application period. Information will not be available before that time.

Please add NETC-AdmissNotifications@fema.dhs.gov to your “safe senders” list to ensure you receive our emails. This email address is used only for sending notifications; do not reply to this email address. If you did not provide an email address on your application, your notification will be sent through U.S. Mail.

Applying for course vacancies

Your application must be received at least six weeks before the course start date to be considered. Vacancies within six weeks of the start date of the course are filled only from the established wait list, so it is beneficial for you to apply early in the application period.

Requesting a Student Identification Number

If you are interested in applying for a NFA course, you need to register for a FEMA Student Identification Number (SID). Applications for NFA courses that do not include a SID will not be processed.

To obtain a SID

You will receive an email with your SID. Save this number in a secure location.

Understanding course codes

Every NFA course has a course code as part of the overall reference number. As you scan the catalog, the course code can help you more easily identify the delivery method for your program of interest. You can quickly scan for programs that fit your preferred delivery option. Be sure to include the correct course code when you submit your application for an NFA course.

Example: If you are interested in course number R0214: Forensic Evidence Collection, the letter “R” in the reference number tells you the delivery method. As you consult the course code list below, you will see that a course with the letter “R” is either a 10-day or six-day course offered on-campus.

The Course Description page of the catalog provides specifics on the delivery type and duration along with information such as course objectives, selection criteria, prerequisites and continuing education units.

Application process for a non-U.S. citizen

The NFA offers a limited number of opportunities for non-U.S. citizens to attend courses. If a course has vacancies after U.S. applicants have been placed, you (as a non-U.S. citizen) will be considered.

Non-U.S. citizens must pay transportation, lodging and meal costs.

You must be fluent in spoken and written English; language translation is not offered on campus.

You can submit an application anytime during the year but it must be received at least 60 days prior to the course/conference start date.

You will be notified about application status no less than two weeks before the start date of a requested course. Placement for a requested course offering date cannot be guaranteed.